| So what is eBay anyway? You probably already | | | | When you start out on eBay, you might feel |
| have some ideas of what eBay is, but let me | | | | overwhelmed. Don't worry, it gets easier. At first, |
| elaborate a little further. | | | | without any experience or training, it can be a little |
| One way to look at eBay is to imagine a worldwide | | | | tricky to get your ad noticed among the 3.6 million |
| newspaper full of classified ads listing products and | | | | other items added every day. But in time, you too can |
| services for sale. Or perhaps a "For Sale" bulletin | | | | learn the tricks of the trade to sell and make a nice |
| board that millions of people can see. Of course, eBay | | | | profit selling on eBay. |
| charges sellers to put an ad up, but the exposure to | | | | The key is to find someone who has already been |
| the millions of worldwide buyers is worth it. | | | | there and ask if they can show you the ropes. Find a |
| In addition, anyone can put almost anything up for sale. | | | | seller who has been selling on eBay for many months. |
| You've probably heard on the news about the | | | | Look at their feedback and see if they are providing a |
| ridiculous and bizarre auctions that have sold. Like the | | | | good customer experience. |
| grilled cheese sandwich with the (supposed) image of | | | | You can also look for an Education Specialist trained |
| the Virgin Mary that sold for $28,000. | | | | by eBay. These people have taken a special course |
| But not every seller is "out to lunch." There are over | | | | to be able to teach beginning eBayers how to get |
| 276 million users on eBay, and the majority of them | | | | started on eBay. They will be glad to help you get |
| are average hard-working people just like you or I. | | | | started. |
| These buyers and sellers are part of the eBay | | | | Whether you're young or old, it doesn't matter. The |
| "community." You're dealing with the other users | | | | beauty of eBay is that you can get started no matter |
| directly, and any buying or selling happens one-on-one. | | | | who you are, and even if you know nothing about |
| In that way, eBay is like an online version of a | | | | computers or e-commerce. It's not that hard to learn |
| marketplace in a town square-a location where buyers | | | | how to sell on eBay, and everyone starts at the same |
| and sellers can meet, haggle over the price and then | | | | place, with 0 feedback and no experience. In time you'll |
| complete the transaction. | | | | become a successful and profitable eBay seller. |